My FriendsDefcon 16
I just recently went to Defcon 16 with some friends and posted some pictures. If you weren't in the group then I doubt these pictures will amuse you.
Karma
Last night I went to see a Coldplay concert in Hartford, CT with Nick and Jessica. The concert was great, I really would have only wanted seats a bit lower -- but it was still a lot of fun.
Not to detract from the fun of the concert, but what I'm writing about here isn't Coldplay, but rather a classic jackhole.
After the concert, we headed with the crowds of people out and around the XL Center. Traffic was obviously messed up due to the number of people in the street and cars trying to get out of the area. We were in no rush and expected that, so we just walked to the parking garage and found our car. At first we moved at a respectable speed, but soon were stopped, no big deal (or so we thought). It's to be expected.
Maybe a minute later, before we even had time to really laugh at this guy's frustration, some kid from the parking garage came walking down talking to cars on the way down. I heard him say to another car "you're going to be here a while." As the staff member walked up to BMW-douchebag-guy (I'll refer to him as BMWDB), BMWDB started yelling at the garage attendant "...move the cars, let us use the @*#(@# left lane!", etc. The staff member was pretty calm and just told him that there was only one lane out of the garage, and there was traffic. There was a two to three minute exchange with BMWDB getting angrier and the staff guy keeping pretty cool trying to calm this tool down saying things like "dude, I'm on you're side". There was another car of people watching all this too and we all couldn't help but laugh at this guy.
BMWDB eventually gets out of his car pissed and starts pacing a bit, trying to find a way for him to get out of this garage. After a minute, he get's back in his car still pissed. Around here is when the other car who was laughing at him (the car he originally honked at to move) started playing Queen's "Another one bites the dust" with their car horn as an added instrument. Not normally *that* funny in it's own right, but considering how pissed it was making BMWDB, it was great. Towards the end, I got Nick to also participate in the song with his car horn -- and I only imagine BMWDB was less than thrilled that we're all having a good time while he's about to start shooting. They even got out of their car and started dancing in the parking lot, I assume just for BMWDB's benefit.
Eventually after fifteen minutes or so, he gets out of his car, gets his girlfriend to sit in the drivers seat and we hear him say "...you know how to drive this right?" I don't know what she said, but it WASN'T a yes. We thought he was telling her how to drive a standard transmission (which, if were true, would be a concern for the well-being of everyone around her). He went off saying "I'll see you outside" and he stormed off. This only prompted more taunting from the other car (which he well deserved).
We enjoyed some douchebag-free time and after some time, started to move. Nick wisely allowed BMWDB's girlfriend in *front* of us in case she really didn't know how to drive the car. I said in passing that maybe BMWDB was at street level doing something to help move us along and we really just kinda let it go for a bit. After some time we could see the exit and slowly worked towards the exit with BMWDB's car just ahead of us.
As we came up to the street, we could see that BMWDB was indeed in the street "directing" traffic. When I say "directing" I mean to say he was holding up every car and letting the parking garage traffic out first. What's even more in keeping with his personality was that he was actually yelling at the parking garage cars exiting saying things like "just fucking go, anytime, move!". Sadly, I started to realize that to the people on the street level, this guy was NOT a douchebag, he was some guy just trying to get the garage emptied out. They actually were cheering FOR him having no idea what the other half of the story. It really bothered me that this guy, a grade A jackass, actually had people cheering FOR him. Nick said that we should think of something to say to him as we got up there. As I thought about it I realized, and said to Nick and Jess, that it didn't really matter what we said to him because he wasn't going to listen. While not a evangelist for Karma, I do at least believe that this guy will eventually do something that will, in a way, help punish him for is asshole-ness and I said something to that effect.
A few more minutes went by and BMWDB joins back up with his car, the crowd cheering for him. He was immediately blocked by a limo and a few guys in the crowd actually stepped in and started holding traffic for him. This made me further sad, but again -- I really didn't have I could do but trust that someday, hopefully soon, he would do something to himself that would even this out.
Not 20 seconds later, as traffic in front of him cleared, they started to move and BMWDB guy decides he's to celebrate in his victory and stick his torso out of the passenger window as the girlfriend drives away. I'm sure in his mind there was a ticker-tape parade in his honor. However, the girlfriend (who I'm assuming would normally never be allowed to drive his beloved BMW) took off a little faster than he expected and he slid down back into the seat, somehow rolling onto his back while still hanging out of the window.
She stopped the car and BMWDB got out, walks up to his glasses and actually falls to his knees in the street and screams "FUCK!". Nick, Jess and I were sitting there trying to figure out if it actually just happened and were just ecstatic.
Karma, real or not, is a bitch, just and prompt.
Barfing (part 2)
To: Joe Webster
Subject: Stickney on Spewing
Date: Tue, March 25, 2008 8:26 pm
Maybe I am just old fashioned, but yacking for me has evolved over the years. It now depends on place, time, circumstances. I couldnt pick just one. When I was a wee little boy ( yes, smaller than I am now ), it was the traditional put a towel on the ground, put the bucket on top of that, and go to sleep. And that worked. But at some point, perhaps the point I truly became a man, was the point where the bucket went away and you were expected to be able to run to the bathroom yourself and barf like an adult, in the toilet.
Being sick at home in later years would send me downstairs to the couch, where the TV was. Barfing downstairs was again the toilet, maybe the sink if I wasnt feeling too terribly sick. The shower was out of the question as it was only a shower, not a tub, 3 inches of shower probably would not be able to contain the puke.
Now, being sick in high school happened once or twice. Sink, without question. Not that I dont trust my fellow students, but I am not putting my head in a high school toilet.
I got sick last year and went right for the toilet, maybe Im a romantic at heart, but there's just something that feels so right about up chucking in the porcelain thrown.
-peter
Barfing
I haven't thrown up in a while -- a real long time in fact. I've had the occasional verp, but otherwise it has probably been 10+ years. However, that doesn't mean that I haven't had to be involved in another's hurling as of late.
It was during one of these more recent events that got me thinking about where I would choose to barf when I have to next. While there are many places I might be when this happens, I'm fairly confident that it will be at home when it does. Given that, I think I agree with most in that my first choice would be the bathroom. However, I think the traditional choice of the toilet is a flawed idea and should be treated as such. This is the 21st century and we should hurl appropriately.
I've had this discussion most recently with Laurie and I told her that I would post it, to make my thought process clear. So here it comes. (No pun intended)
#3: The Toilet
While others consider to be the 'best' place to upchuck, I think it's place as #1 has long been out-lived. I believe it to be the last resort of the bathroom.
Pros:
- It's already dirty, barfing won't really make it 'that much' worse.
- It's close to the floor, good for the 'long wait' and also means that there isn't far to fall.
- It's a decent sized target with high sides. During emesis, most (if not all) matter should be contained into one area.
- It's almost self-cleaning. One flush and you could be done and on your way back to bed, regardless of particle size.
Cons:
- It's already dirty, putting your head there isn't really fun. Even if it's your own toilet and you keep it clean, it's still a toilet. I really don't WANT to put my head there on purpose. This is only worse if it's not your toilet or if... 'other' things have been going on due to your sickness.
- It's a toilet, wait did I cover that already?
- While close to the ground, it's still not really at a low enough level to be sitting comfortably on the floor.
- There are a number of nooks and crannies on a toilet. This provides places for matter to hide. In general, cleaning can be a pain in the ass.
#2: The Sink
I know it's a bit uncommon, especially in the bathroom, to choose this as your place of puking (POP). I agree that it's not the best, but I think it has several advantages over the toilet. That being said, it's far from perfect.
Pros:
- It's NOT a toilet. It's clean. That means alot to me.
Cons:
- It's a sink, you're up pretty high. There is no real way to sit down and even leaning could be an effort if you're feeling dizzy or tired. If you do get dizzy, you're going down hard.
- It's not usually that 'deep', the sides are pretty shallow. If your having high-speed hurling (HSH) you could quickly be in for a mess.
- Particle size can be an issue. Some things may not get washed down willingly. If you have the removable drain stopper, you might be okay. Otherwise, some extra clean-up might be required.
- There are things in the area that I would really not want puke on. My toothbrush comes to mind. This requires extra diligence that I really might not have at the time of hurling (TOH)
#1: The Bathtub
Woah, woah, simmer down. Let me explain! It's not the most obvious, but I really think it has the best of all worlds.
Pros:
- It's NOT a toilet. (See #2)
- It's a HUGE target. It would be REALLY hard to miss this thing
- It's a perfect height. You can sit on the floor, lay back, relax and wait patiently. When the time comes, just lean a bit and you're good to go. If you practice, you can even lay/lean and not have to move at all. Heck, I could even pass out and be okay with that.
- HSH is a non-issue. Not only is the area large, not only are the sides tall but you ALSO have a splash guard if needed!
- Clean-up is easy. You've got the overhead shower to... wrangle matter down to the drain, a quick swipe with paper towel and follow-up with a spray of your favorite disinfectant and you're done.
- Even if it wasn't MY tub, I would still rather use that than someone else's toilet.
Cons:
- Particle size can be an issue, however clean-up is fairly user-friendly (see above).
As you can clearly see, the bathtub has the fewest Cons and the most Pros -- it's a no brainer!
Lunar Eclipse
Scott was giving me shit about NOT posting a picture from the eclipse back in February, so here you go:
They didn't come out as good as I hoped, but what are you going to do.